Bottle-capping machine.



T. J'.-LEV11YI BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30,1909. 997, 142-. Patented July 4, 1911 3SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. J. LEVBY.

BOTTLE CAPPING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00w so 1909 997,142.

Patented July 4, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEHT 2.

m f NW 3 z a z Wig/M 6 675 m w a 1 5W 1.1.1.1117111', I BOTTLE GAPPINGMACHINE.

' APPLIOATIOK FILED 00'1'. 30,1909. 1 997,142. 1 1

v s SHEETS-SHEET 3,

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- Patelgted July 4, 1911.

UNITED strAr s PATENT OFFICE THOMAS J. IiEVEY, 015 WASHINGTON, DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THEINTERNATIONAL CAI AND SEALING-MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFMARYLAND.

' no'rrnn carrme MACHINE.

Application filed October 30, 1909. Serial No. 525,582.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, THOMAS J. LEVEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashing-ton, in theDistrict of Columbia,

make and use the same.

This invention relates to bottle capping machines, and has for itsobject to produce a machine of this nature which will be'more compact,cheaper to construct, and more efficient in .LCtlOD than those now inuse.

1th these'objects in view, the invention consists-in the novel. detailsof construction and combinations of iarts more fully hereinafterdisclosedan particularly pointed out in the claims. Referring to theaccompanyingdrawings forming a. part of this specification, in, whichlike numerals refer to like partisan;

all the views :Figu re 1, is an elevational view, partly 11] section ofa machine made In accordance with this invention; Fi 2 is niatic clutchcoupling used in connection -.'with this 1nachine; Fig. 8, is asectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9, is a detail of theconnections bet-ween the power shaft and the capping head; Fig. 10, 1Sanfelevatwnal view of a port on of the hub of the-pulley 1, therebyconnectingg the;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1 911.

shaft and pulley; as will be readily understood. 5 represents aspringfor normally forcing the said key 4 into the hub of the pulley 1,and 6 is a beveled vertically moving rodadapted to take against theinclined end of the key 4 and to move the said key out of engagementwith the hub of said pulley 1.

7 is a spring for normally holdin the rod I 6 in engagement with the ke4, an 8 represents a crank which may e of the-form shown and which ispivoted at 9 and is provided with the foot lever 10, as will be readily,understood. The end-.11 of the crank 8 engages the rod 6, and when thefoot lever 10 1S depressed said end 11 will cause said rod 6 to. belikewise depressed and to thereupon permit the spring 5 to move the key4 into engagement with the hub of the pulley 1 and therebyconnect saidpulley with the shaft 2. When the 'foot lever 10 is released a suitablespring 12 restores the parts to their normal position,

as will .be clear from the drawings. The 4 power shaft is furtherprovided with a lug l3 keyed at 14 to the said shaft, and said lug isprovided with two jaws 15. between which is pivoted, as at 16, the dog17 controlled by the spring 18 whichzmay be adjusted by the screw bolt19, as will be readily understood. The lug 13 is provided with thesmaller bifurcated lug 20 between the parts of which is pivoted, as at21, the trigger 22 againstthe toe 23 ofwhich the' pawl 17 takes.The-trigger 22 is controlled by \the sprin 24, the tension of which maybe adjusted by the screw bolt 25. This screw bolt may be "adjusted toand from the pivot 21 by moving the same in the slot, 26, with which thearm. of the trigger 22 is provided, and'by this adjustment theamou'n't'of leverage or power required: to trip the trigger 17 isreadily controlled.

Loose on the shaft 2 is a hub 30, provided with a gear 31 meshing; withthe vertically moving rack 32 guide by alug 34 on the machine, which lugis preferably madeLin two parts, as indicated, and is provided w thanti-friction rollers 35., This hub- 30 is also 1, providedwithan'extended arm 36, the upfper end 37 of which is bent atrightangles, as shown in Fig. 7,-to form a-lug, 38,. having againstwhich a lug 17 on the dog 17 is adapted to abut. The vertically movingrack 32'is connected as at 41 to a rod 42 which extends through theupper part of the machine and has connected at itsother end the cross issecured the capping head 43' in which mechanism.

represents a spring surrounding the rod 42 the tension'of which may beadjusted by .the collar held on the rod 42. This spring normally holdsthe capping mechanism in a raised position, as shown in Fig. 1; and toprovlde for the assembling and ad justment of the parts a door 46 hingedat 47,

is provided in the upper part of the machine. Securely held in theouterend of the cross head 43 is the plunger stem 44 of the bottle I cappingmechanism. This stem is screw threaded as at 45 to accommodate thesleeve 46 and has a reduced lower end 47 as shown.

Surrounding this reduced end is the slotted cam sleeve 48, andsurrounding said sleeve 48 is the slitted tubular capping member 49.

. Pins 50 passthrough the arts '47, 48 and 49 to hold the same secure ytogether. The sleeve 48 is provided withthe cammembers 51 and thecapping member 49'is provided with the crimping projections 52. The stem44" is preferably enlarged at 54, and provided with the slot 55 whichreceives the weighted lever 56 pivoted at 57 to a stem.58

'below.

passing through the lower end of the plum ger stem and screw threaded.at 60 ,tothe tubular stem 61 of the cam head 62. The

stem61 is slotted at 63 to receive the pin 64, passing through the stem65 of the auxiliary head 66. The head 62 is provided with an opening toreceive the-stem 65', as illustrated.

Surrounding the tubular stem 61 and resting on the pin 64 is the sliding.collar 67, and also surrounding said stem ,61 and resting above thecollar is the spring 68, while above said stem 61 and surrounding thelower end of the rod or stem .58is the spring 70, all as will be clearlyunderstood from the draw- The auxiliary head66 may be; providedwith't-he' projection 7 5, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or this projectimiillustrated 'in Fig. 6.

maybe omitted, as

The operation of this machine is as follows :-Power being applied to theloose pulley 1, the same runscontinuously, and

when the operator depresses the lever 10, the

end 11 of the same draws down the rod 6,"-

permitting the dog 4 to be moved by the spring 5 into engagement withthe hub of the pulley 1, thereby locking the same to-the shaft 2, a iidcausing the same to rotate. The shaft 2 rotates the lug 13 and d0g l7,which in turn by reason of the engagement of the shoulder 17 with thelug 38 causes the arm.

36 and hub 30 to revolve and the gear 31 to I pull down the rack bar 32and rod 42 against the tension of the spring 44. The downward movementof the rod 42 causes the cross head 43 to move downward being guided inthismotion by the extension 78, taking inthe ways 79 rigid with themachine. The plunger stem 44, and pressure blocks 62 and 66 also movedow'n with the head 43, and a bottle 80 having been placed on theadjustable stand 81-, the auxiliary head 66 will come in contactwith thetop surface 83 of the bottle cap thereupon firmly seating the same onthe bottle. As tho plunger continues to descend, the crimpingprojections-52 will contact with-the upper portion of the flange 84 ofthe bottle cap, and be forced outwardly against the tension of theslitted spring portions 85. into which the tubular capping member 49 isdivided. These crimpmg projections 52 .will accordingly wipe e downalong the flange 84 stretching t metal and taking up any slack so tospeak that might be formed owing to the metal buckling or bending awayfrom the bottle,

, and after the lower edge of theshoulder on the bottle head has beenpassed the spring tension of the said parts 85 will cause the saidcrimping projections .to snap the stretched metal inwardly and under thesaid shoulder, thereby causing a firm and tight hold between the cap andbottle. In the meantime, the head 62 will have been brought down incontact with the auxiliary head66, the spring 68 and 70 will have beencompressed, and the upper edge of the bottle mouth will be forcedinto orwill firmly compress the cork .87 of the' cap, and thereupon makea gastight joint of great eflieiency, as will be clear-from Fig. 4. Theprojection 75 on the auxiliary head may be employed to depress the metalas illustrated, and theoretically at least, to increase the efiiciencyof the seal, but in practice seals of very high efiiciency have beenmade without this projection. 'The pressure of .the heads on the top.83of the cap effectually prevents the metal. from buckling in that part ofthe cap, and therefore,'aids the wiping and stretching action of thecrimping projections 52.

In theoperations above described, as the parts descend the weight 73causes the lever 56 to turn on its pivot and to bring its cam 74 intothe position shown in Fig. 4 wherein it rests-on the cut away portion ofthe stem 44, and locks the parts against rising,

in their lowered positions. As, however,

under their spring tension and thereupon stripping off the cap. As theparts c011- tinue to rise after the capping operation is.

completed. the lug 72 turns the lever 56 in the opposite direction,thereby raising the weight and permitting the spring 68 to restore theparts to the positions shown in Fig. 3, wherein the spring 70counterbalances the weight 73, and wherein the capping head and crimpingprojections are ready for another operation. As the shaft continues torevolve during the downward operation of the parts above described, thepressure between the pawl 17 and the toe of the trigger increases byreason of the resistance of the bottle and if these parts not soonerreleased from this or other causes when the lower surface of the crosshead ll, contacts 'with the upper surface freeing the arm 36 and rod 42from the in fluence of the shaft. The spring 44, after having beencompressed serves to raise the capping mechanism into the position shownin Fig. 3, to return the arm 36 and lug 39 to their normal positions,and the spring 18 serves to snap the pawl 17 back into engagement withthe trigger 22, thereupon bringing the projection 17 into the propeposition to again engage the lug 3).

From the above it will be evident that the parts will 'repeat the abovecycleof operations as long the pulley 1 is connected to the shaft 2, butas soon as the rod (3 is permitted to rise under the influence of itsspring/1' shaft theoperation of the capping mechanism ceases.

It is evident that changes in the details of construction and in theoperation of the parts as described may be made by those skilled in. theart without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, and, therefore, Ido not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required bythe claims. What I claim is 1. In a bottle capping machine, thecombination a power shaft; a reciprocating capping plunger; connectionsbetween said so as to disconnect said pulley and plunger and said shaft;a split tubular member carried by the plunger and pro vided withcrimping projections adapted to contact with and to surround the flangeof a bottle cap'; and means adapted to force said projections outwardlyand away from said flange during the return ofthe plunger and after thecapping operation is completed, substantially as described.

2. In abottle cappingmachine the combination of a power shaft; areciprocating capping plunger; connections between said shaft and saidplunger comprising a friction controlled clutch coupling; a tubularmember attached to said plunger and provided with resilient springfingers having crimping projections adapted to contact with the flangeof. a bottle cap upon the downward movement of said plunger; and meansfor forcing said projections out of contact with said flange during theupward movement of the plunger and after the capping operation iscompleted, substantially described. 3. In a bottle capping machine, thecombination of a power shaft; a reciprocating capping plunger comprisinga friction controlled clutch coupling; adjustable spring means forcontrolling the friction of said coupling; a tubular member attached tosaid plunger and provided with spring con trolled crimping projectionsadapted to contact with the flange of a bottle cap; and means comarising a wedging member for forcing sai projection out of contact withsaid flange during the return movement of the plunger and after thecapping operation is completed, substantially described.

4. In a bottle'capping machine, the combination of a rotatin shaft; arod 42; a friction controlled clutch between said shaft and said rodadapted to disconnect the parts when the strain exceeds apredeterminedlimit; a spring for moving said rod in one direction; a reciprocatingplunger; a connection between said rod and said plunger;

.and a split capping tubular member atto be operated by said pulley; arod 42; a

friction controlled connection between said shaft and said rod;comprising a lug rigid with said shaft, a pawl carried by said lug, ahub carrying an arm loose on said shaft and controlled by said pawl anda connection between said hub and said rod; a spring for inoving saidrod in one direction; a plunger; a connection between said rod and saidplunger; and a split tubular capping member attached to said plunger;substantially as described.

6. In a bottle capping. machine, the combination ofa power pulley; ashaft operated by said pulley; a lug rigid on said shaft and pingoperation is completed;

carrying a pawl; a trlgger'22 for controlling said pawl; anarm loose onsaid shaft controlled by said pawl ,a'bottle'capping niem ber and meansconnecting. said arm and said bottle capping. member, substantially asdescribed. j-

7. In a bottlecappingmachine; the com bination of a power pulley; ashaft operated by said pulley;-'a lug rigid on said; shaft and carryinga pawl; a trigger 22' for controlling said pawl; an ad ustable springior controlling said trigger; a hub loose, on said shaft provided withan arm adapted to be cont-rolled bysaid pawl and trigger; and bottlecapping means'adapted to be operated from said hub, substantially asdescribed.

8. In abottlecapping machine, the combination of a power shaft; areciprocating plunger; connections between said shaft and said plunger;a'bottle capping means comprising a split tubular member havingresilient spring-fingers and crimping projectio'ns rigid with'saidfingers adapted; to contactwith the flange of a bottle cap; and

' with the flange of a bottle cap a head member adapted to rest. on thecap; and means for forcing said projections out of contact with saidflange after the capping o aeration is completed; substantially asdescri ed.

10. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a reciprocatingplunger; a split tubular member rigid therewith and provided with acrimping project-ion; a cam member 51 associated with said tubularmember; and means for actuating said crimping projections through theagency of said cam member after the capping operation is completed,substantially as described.

11. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a reciprocatingmeans; a split tubular member carrying integral spring controlledcrimping projections associated with said means; and means associatedwith said member for positively moving said crimping projectionsoutwardly and putting seams them under tension after the cappingoperation is completed, substantially as described.

asecond tubular member associated with said first mentioned member,provided with cam project-Ions; a reciprocating means to 'whieh saidtubular members are detachably attach-ed; and means cooperating withsaid cam projections adapted to move said crimping projections away fromthe bottle head and against the tension of said sprlng fingers,substantially as described.

14. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a power pulley;a'bottle capping mechanism; means comprising a revolving triggermechanism connecting said power jections adapted to encircle the bottlehead;

pulley and said bottle capping mechanism and adapted to TIHOVB thelatter in a downward d1rect1on;=and means assoclated with said triggermechanism causing the sameto trip and to disconnect said pulley-fromsaid bottle capping mechanism when the strain on said capping mechanismreaches a predetermined point; substantially as. described.

15. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a power pulley; abottle capping mechanism; a cross head to which.'said mechanism isconnected; means comprising" a revolvin tri 'er mechanism connectin t)Db said pulley and said cross head and adapted to move said cappingmechanism downward; means causing said trigger mechanism to trip whenthe strain on thecapping mechanism reaches a predetermined point; and astop adapted to suddenly arrest said downward movement; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereofll afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. LEVEY.

Witnesses Cins. M. SCHNEIDER, Mnu'rm Sonxmonn.

